The Christmas Box, by Richard Paul Evans

A story of love, loss, and realization, this book will remind you to cherish what matters most in your life. The music of the music box was a little too far for my suspension of disbelief to stretch, but the story is meaningful and enlightening nonetheless.

The Life of Our Lord, by Charles Dickens

A famous author, Dickens, takes the time to tell the story of our Savior in his own words and for his children. The story was well written, had tidbits of extra interest to keep the children engaged, and drew from the scriptures.

I didn't love Dicken's personal additions to or interpretations of scripture, and given that it's not a fantastic classic that the world can learn from, I'm saddened that Dicken's posterity went against his express wishes and published it. (They 'technically' weren't violating Dicken's exact words, but desecrated the spirit of what he wanted for this manuscript, which was to have it kept solely for his children and grandchildren and etc.) I feel I'm doing the author a disservice by opening the cover and reading words he didn't want me to see. I couldn't shake the feeling and it colored my perception of the story every moment I was reading it. Those of you who won't feel the qualms seeping into your soul, sent express from Dicken's ghost, may enjoy the book a great deal more than I.

Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow, by Orson Scott Card

The tale of two young geniuses are brought to bear here, complete with inter-galactic warfare, mind games, social adeptness (and in-adeptness), political masterminding, and the stories of their heart-wrenching backgrounds.

Ethical problems are presented and discussed from multiple viewpoints. The science of God and man are brought to highs and lows. The plot and main characters are a pleasant puzzle that is placed piece by intriguing piece into view.

These two novels are partners - parallel to each other but told from the viewpoints of different characters - the tactical genius and the social genius.

These are excellent reads and would be great for discussing the concepts while reading along with a child.

Prayers for Sale, by Sandra Dallas

Hello, life. How are you today? How does yesterday make you feel? How does the unexpected of today alter your choices? Told by an elderly lady who welcomes a young bride into her dredging town in the Colorado mountains, this novel lends perspective to each day we live and to our lives as a whole.

The novel is all about life and death, forgiveness, and quilting. I've pieced many baby quilts and made a few larger quilts too, though I'm still working on the first large 'pieced' quilt. The dedication, time, and energy spent on quilting - and the importance of quilting to the lives of those women - was a new concept for me. One of the quilts plays a central role in the main story of forgiveness that is threaded throughout the book, and one of the fabrics in the story is a symbol of love, family, status, and friendship.
You will laugh and cry, learn and awe as you read this tale of vision and love. Enjoy.